Machine for folding letters and the like.



PATENTED JULY 23, 1907.

0. W. JOHNSON. MACHINE FOR FOLDING LETTERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1905. RENEWED NOV.l6, 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

in attozmzw PATENTED JULY 23, 1907.

, O. W. JOHNSON. "MACHINE FOR FOLDING LETTERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1905. RENEWED NOV.16, 1906.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

gluuenroz QM/JZIUZSOIL wifvmaoea PATENTED JULY 23, 1907. 0. W. JOHNSON. MACHINE FOR FOLDING LETTERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 14, 1906. RENEWED NOV.16. 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

0. Info/ 171,5011

Wilivwaoao No. 861,187. PATENTED JULY 23, 1907. O. W. JOHNSON. MACHINE FOR FOLDING LETTERS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1905. RENEWED NOV.16, 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 861,187. PATENTED JULY 23, 1907. 0. W. JOHNSON.

ZMAGHINE FOR FOLDING LETTERS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1905. RENEWED NOV.16, 1906.

e SHEETSSHEET s.

witnesses PATENTED JULY 23, 1907.

0. W. JOHNSON. I v MACHINE FOR FOLDING LETTERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY14, 1905. RENEWED NOT/.16, 1906.

6 SHEETSSHEET 6.

' UNITED STATES OLIVER W. JOHNSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING LETTERS AND TEE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented July 23, 1907.

Application filed Jilly 14,1905, Serial No. 269,689. Renewed November 16, 1906. Serial No. 343,766.

. To all whom it may confiem:

Be it known that I, OLIVER W. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Folding Letters and the Like, of which the following isa specification.

While this machine is designed, primarily, for folding letters, it may be adapted for folding circulars and pamphlets either in parallel folds or in folds at a rightangle to one another as may be required.

The invention comprises cooperating pairs of folding rolls and co-acting stop guides to effect buckling or flexing of the sheet preliminary to the next fold.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a letter folding machine embodying the invention and adapted for letter or right angular folding, the legal or parallel folder being thrown out of action. Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. l showing'the means adapted for legal or parallel folding. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine, the rear portion of the primary stop guide being broken away. Fig. 4 is a front view of the-machine. Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the transverse or. letter folding rollers, the receiving end of the rack in which the folded letters,

sheets or the like are received and illustrating the means whereby said folding rolls are operated. Fig. '6 is a detail View of the guide means for directing the letter or sheet after being doubled upon itself, to the letter or transverse folding mechanism. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 6, the dotted lines showing the guide bars turned aside. Fig. 8 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 7. Figs. 9, 10,11 and 12 are detail views, in the nature of diagrammatic views illustrating the folding rolls and creasing mechanism and the sheet in operative relation thereto, all as will be hereinafter specifically described. It is to be understood clearly that the last named views are in the nature of diagrammatic views merely and omit such parts as are not necessary in views of such character. For instance Fig. 11 omits the stop guides 50 and 49.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The machine comprises a suitable base 1 and frame 2 mounted thereon, the latter being of such formation as to support the'working parts and admit of their various movements and adjustments. A holder 3, for receiving apile of letters, sheets or the like to be folded, is pivotally supported near its lower end at4 to the'base land it is adapted to be raised and lowered by a pivotal movement to admit of the sheets being conveniently placed in position. This holder consists of a plate 5, adjustable side gage 6 and movable bottom gage 7, whereby the holder maybe adapted to the size of the sheets or letters to be folded. A compensating spring 7 cooperates with the holder to lighten the pressure of the paper on the feed roller. When the holder 3 is in operative position, it occupies an approximately vertical position with the weight to one side of its pivot support 4, as indicated most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the upper end is forced by gravitative action towards the feed roll and folding mechanism. When it is required to supply the holder with a pile of sheets to be folded, the upper end of the holder is swung outward and downward to cause the holder to assume an approximately horizontal position,

thereby admitting of the paper being conveniently placed in position and the parts 6 and 7 to be adjusted if needs be. After the holder has been filled, it is turned into normal or vertical position.

to be understood that the sheets are placed cdgewise in the holder and are supported in vertical position on edge with the outermost sheet resting at its upper end in contact with the feed roll 8. The entire holder is supported by the roll 8 alone, as its entire weight is to one side of its pivots 4 when in vertical position.

As the roll 8 is turned, it will feed the sheets one at a time by contact with the outermost sheet, upwardly, and the sheets will contact with the uppermost guide 14 and be deflected thereby between the guides 14 and 15 into the rolls 12 and 13. In the present illustration, referring particularly to Figs. 1 and-2it will be understood that the paper holder is empty, its rear side resting up against the feed roll 8.v

Rolls 12 and 13 are located in vertical alinement, the roll 13 being mounted in stationary bearings, whereas the roll 12 is mounted in yieldable bearings to admit of the roll" 12 adapting itself to the thickness of 10 f r, and the corresponding end of the guide member 14 curves over and around the upper outer portion of the feed roll, so as to deflect the upper edge portion of the sheet from the vertical to the horizontal in the 1 initial forward movement of the paper to the folding 15 mechanism. The guide members 14 and 15 preferably consist of sheet metal plates.

A'stop guide 16 is located opposite to the space formed between the ro1ls'12 and 13 and comprises upper and lower spaced members between which an end portion 20 of the sheet is adapted to pass as it emerges from between the rolls 12. and 13', an adjustable stop 17 being located at the outer end of the guide to arrest the forward movement of the sheet so as to cause said sheet to buckle or flex at the predetermined point corresponding to the desired initial fold. The companion members of the guide 16 are flared at the receiving end. of I the guide to. insure entrance of the sheet between them. Aroll 18 is located opposite to and in substantial horizontal alinement with the roll 13 and is mounted in yielding bearings to adapt the space between the rolls 13 and 18 to the thickness of material passing between.

them. The rolls 13 and 18 may be termed the initial or primary folding rolls since they'first act upon the sheet or paper when given the initial bend. The space between the companion rolls 13 and 18 is opposite the receiving or entrance end of the guide 16. The rolls 12, 13 and 18 are positioned (all three being considered) in a substantial right angular relation, the roll 13 being directly underneath the roll 12, and the roll 18 40 maintaining a substantial horizontal arrangement with respect to the roll 13, although in a slightly lower plane. The stop guide 16 extends in a direction or line forming an acute angle with both the rolls 12 and 18 with its entrance close to and between the two. Hence as the sheet is passed between the rolls 12 and 13 into the stop guide 16 and is stopped thereby it'will buckle at the entrance end of the guide, and, as the space between the rolls 13 and 18 isclose to said entrance end of the guide as before stated, the buckled portion will feed into said space and be caught by rolls 13 and 18 and pass ed downwardly therethrough to form the first crease or fold. As the paper or sheet, when first folded, passes 1 downward between the rolls 13 and .18 and for legal or pamllcl folds, an end portion of the folded sheet enters a gllidc stop 19 similar to the stop guide 16, and when again buckled or flexed passes between the roll 18 and a companion roll 20 located below the roll 18 and-in vertical alinement therewith to form the second fold. If the sheet or letter is .to be folded at a right-angle to the primary fold, the stop guide 19 and folding roll 20 are thrown out of the way and the sheet is permitted to drop between guides 21 and 22 and 23 and 24, and passes laterally between a series of vertically arranged folding rolls, which hereinafter will be described in detail. The folding roll 20 and stop guide 19 are car- '19 and folding roll 20 are thrown out .indicated in Fig. 1.

" ea ier 'ried by arms 25 pivoted at 26, said arms being connected for simultaneous movement.- A spring 27 is attached to an extension of an arm 25aml is adapted to be onposition, 'the spring 27 is engaged with the'lug 29, as

shown in Fig. 2. The receiving end of the step guide 19 comes opposite to the spaces between the cooperating rolls 13 and 18'and 18 and 20, and bears the same angular relation to said rolls as the step guide 16, but on the opposite side of the rolls 13 and 18. When the legal or parallel folder is in working position, the sheet, after receiving the initial or primary fold, passes into the guide 19 the predetermined distance, and when its movement is arrested, a continued movement of the sheet between the rolls 13 and 18 causes saidshect to buckle or flex towards the rolls 18 and 20, which form the second fold in the sheet parallel with the primary fold. This constitutes the legal or parallel folding of the sheet or paper. i When it is required to adjust orarrange the machine for letter folding, the stop guide of the way, as

The guides 21 and 22 consist of bars or strips attached at their lower ends to a pivoted plate 30 admitting of the guides being thrown out of the way when the machin is used for legal or parallel folding. The strips or bars 21 and 22 are spaced apart and their upper ends flared to insure entrance,of the sheet or paper between them. The guide rollers 23 and 24 are located some distance from the guides 21 and 22 and are" of'conical form, being upwardly tapered to facilitate the entrance of the paper between them as it drops from the folding rolls 13 and 18. One of the rolls, as 23, is positively driven for the purpose of advancing the sheet to the transverse folding mechanism. As shown, a belt 31 connects'the roll 23 with the inner middle roll 32. A plate 33 is located nearthe rolls 23 and 24 and is vertically adjusted so as to insure proper delivery of the folded sheet to the transverse folding mechanism. The roll 23 is 'mounted on an arm 34, whereas the roll 24 is mounted upon a bell crank lever 35. A spring 36, attached to an extension 37 of the arm 34, is adapted to be attached to a lug 38 of the main frame so as to hold the roll 23 against the roll 24. A brace 39 pivotally connected at one end to the bell crank lever 35 is adapted to be fitted into a notch 40 of the main frame 2 so as to fix the position ofthe rolls 23 and 24 with reference to the guides 21 and 22 and thev transverse folding mechanism when the latter or transverse folding mechanism is in operative position. When the brace 39 and the sprin g36 are disengaged from the mainframe, the rolls 23 and 24 may be thrown out of the way.

' 1 Folding rolls 41 and 42 are located at opposite sides iss transverse fold, after passing betweenthe rolls 43 and 32, enters the step guide 50 and is again buckled or half clutch or one face which is adapted to mesh with a corresponding half clutch at the inner end of a collar 47 mounted upon the shaft 46 and adapted to be secured thereto by means of a set screw 48. The space between the vertical rolls 41 and 32 is in the same plane with the space formed between the rolls- 13 and 18 and in the same plane with the-space formed between the" guides 21 and 22 and the rolls 23 and 24. A stop guide 49 is arranged opposite to the space formed between the rolls 41'and 32 and 32 and 43. A similar stop guide 50 is located opposite to the spaces formed between the cooperating folding rolls 32 and 42 and 32 and 43. A curved guide 51 is located opposite to the inner 'side of the folding roll 42 and directs the foldegl letter or sheet around said roll, from oneside to the other. Flat springs 52 support the guide 51 and are attachedat one end to a convenient portion of the main frame.

The letters, sheets or the like, when folded longitudinally and transversely, are received in a rack 53 which is located at one side of the machine'about in longitudinal alinement with the transverse folding mechanism. The rack 53 consists of a trough in which is slidably'mounted a support 54 .which is moved along the rack as the letters are, received therein. The in-v ner end of the rack is closed by means of a plate 55, the inner end being curved, as shown at 56, to provide a flared entrance to insure delivery of the folded letters "in sheets into 53 the rack. I

When the machine is adapted to be used for letter or transverse folding, the legal or parallel folder is thrown out of theway, as hereinbefore stated, and

illustrated in Fig; 1, and the guides 21 and 22 and the guide rolls 23 and 24 are thrown into position, as indicated in Fig. 3. The collar 47 is moved upon the shaft 46 tothrow its half clutch into engagement with-thecooperating halfclutch of the gear 45, thereby causing ism are set in motion.

the parallel {and transverse folding mechanisms to operate simultaneously. Upon imparting motion to said shaft the folding rolls .and the feeding mechan 16 until the advancing edge of the sheet comes in contact with the stop 17, when the sheet will buckle or flex and the fold caught between the trolls 13 and 18, and the sheet, thus doubled upon itself, or longitudinally folded,passes between the guides 21 and 22 and the guide rolls 23 and 2 4, and by the action of the latter is moved laterally between the rolls 32 and 4],,

thence into the stop guide 49, when it will be caused to buckleor flex between the rolls 43 and 32 in a manner similarto the operation of the rolls 13 and. '18 andthe stop guide 16. The sheet with the initial flexed and caused to pass between ,the rolls 32 and 42,

b thereby completing the second transverse fold as in from between the rolls "32 and 42, comes in contact I with the guide 51 and is deflected around the inner side of the roll 42 and caused tosenter the rack 53- in which the letters are stacked.

To prevent slipping of the cooperating rolls, they' letter folding. The folded letter or sheet, as it emerges;

' longitudinal fold.

The sheets are fed from the w are provided atone end internieshing gear .wheels which are secured to an end portion of the respective shafts so as toturn therewith The hubs of the gear wheels face inward and. the r'ubber'or other against the inner faces of the latterto prevent possible slipping and economize in space. Themachine may be operated either by hand orf other suitable power. The rolls 23 and 24, in addition to acting as guides, also serve. to move the sheet laterallyafter the initial It isto'be understood that the severalstop guides 16, 19, 49 and 50 are cpnstructedsubstantially' alike, each comprising' spaced guidefmenibers and. an adjustable stop, the latter serving'Etolimit the-advance of the sheet to .cause it to .bucl r 1e.j'or .fiexat a point 21 and 22 f sition ontheir'supporting'plate 30, and it also showsltheposition of the paper as it passes'the two 16311 42 and 13.. From this viewitbe seen that as'the-paper passes between the rolls12 and 13, the

through the folding plate 16 where it is stopped at a predetermined point and is caused tobuckle at the point F. As soonlas it is thus'buckled the creased fold thereof will be caught between the roll 13 and the roll l8 whichzis in slightly alower plane than the roll 13. It then pass downwardly from the f wo, rolls 13 and flfidowi'i on to the leveling plate 33, between the guide ,the shaft 46 by means of the crank wheel 57 fast upon arms 21 and .22 midis. then ready for thecross or lateral feed into the rolls32'and 41'. v Next Fig? 10 is'to be observed. This view'shows the same parts as Fig. 9, but in plan view with all parts in their.properrelative positions and thesh'eet of paper also shown in both dotted and 'dark lines in the various positionsit must assume'as-it is folded the next two times and passed out Jot-folding plate 51 into the" stacker (not shown). The paper after dropping on tothecones 23 and 24 as befordes'cribed 'is "run'laterally by said rollers between thettworolls 41 and 32 and is fed into the folding plate- 49 where it is caused to .buckle as indicated at the point G as soonas one end strikes the stop in the folding plate, and it is thus deflected towards the two rolls '32 and 43 and is'passei'l in afolded position therefrom up into the I folding plate 50, where it isagaini stopped at the end of the sheet, and'caused to again. buckle at the point in-- 'di cated by'l). It is then caughtandpressed and forced former of which constitutes a feed' roll, it is fed there- I the friction of the paper on theroll and forced into the stacker shown in other views of the drawing. This -Fig.-10 also shows the leveling plate and the-adjusting screw B which raises or lowers the plate to admit of leveling the sheet so that it will be folded correctly when, passed into the second foldingfseries'just described.

guide arms 2l and '22, and on the cones trated in Fig. 9, in other words as the machine would appear when looking at it from'where the paper is fed in between the rolls 12 and 13. It also shows the paper in dotted lines in position after the first fold between the nd. l vel n plate ready for feeding laterally to the side series of folding rolls 41, 32 and 42.

buckle for the first dicates the buckle Fig. 12 illustrates the principle "of the legal told as used on the machine of my invention, the dark lines show the paper in position. The point P shows the fold and the reference letter E infor the second fold, after the paper has been fed into'the second folding plate 19. From this detail description the operation of the machine on folding mechanism,

a paper sheet is believed to he manifest.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a paper folding machine of the character specified, 'the combination of longitudinal and transverse folding mechanisms, means for guiding the paper from the longitudinal foldlpg mechanism to'the transverse mechanism, a second longitudinal folding mechanism for effecting an additional longitudinal fold in the sheet, and means for moving said last named mechanism into and out of the way of the sheet whereby it may either receive the sheet to elfect the said additional longitudinal fold or allow the sheet to pass it and be received by the guiding mechanism and thence pass to the transverse folding mechanism.

2. in a machine for folding letters and the like, the combination of longitudinal and transverse folding mechanisms, the longitudinal folding mechanism comprising a movable part which may be thrown into and out of action, a movable guide mechanism between the longitudinal and transverse folding mechanisms to he thrown into and out of action, said guide mechanism comprising means 'for feeding the longitudinal folded sheet to the transverse folding mechanism, and means for throwing the longitudinal-and transverse folding mechanisms into and out of action.

3. In a' machine for folding letters and the like, the combination of longitudinal and transverse folding mechnn-. isms, an intermediate mechanism for directing and advancing the longitudinally folded sheets to the transverse and a movable folding roll and stop guide constituting a part of the longitudinal folding mechanism, and means coliperating therewith to hold the same either in or out of operative position.

4. in a machine for folding letters and the-llke, the combination of longitudinal and transverse folding mechanisms, -an intermediate mechanism for directing and ad- 3 vanclng the longitudinally folded sheets to the transverse attached to the movable support, and stops on the main the movable support in frame adapted to cooperate with the spring for holding either one of its extreme positions.

5. In a paper folding machine of the type specified, the combination of mechanisms for erecting a first longitudinal fold in a sheet, transverse folding mechanism, guiding mechanism for passing the longitudinally folded sheet to the transverse folding mechanism, and mechanism for effecting a secondlongitudinal fold in the sheet, saidlast named mechanism being arranged to be swung into and out of the way of the sheet whereby it may either receive the sheet and effect the second longitudinal fold or allow the sheet to pass it and be received by the guiding mechanism andfthence pass to the transverse folding mechanism.

6. In a paper folding machine of the type specified. the combination of longitudinal folding mechanism, transverse folding mechanism and guiding mechanism designed to pass the sheet from the longitudinal folding mechanism to p the transverse folding mechanism. a second longitudinal folding mechanism, and means-for moving the guide out of the way of the second folding mechanism.

-7. in a paper folding machine of the type specified, the combination of mechanism for ei fecting the first longituditwecnsaid complementai rolls.

longitudinal folding mechanism,

I some? nal fold in a sheet, said mechanism being arranged to drop a folded sheet therefrom, a transverse folding mechanism, guides arranged to receive the paperdropped from the first longitudinal folding mechanism, a second folding mechanism arranged to eiiect the second longitudinal fold ln a sheet, and means for moving either said last named iongl' tudinal folding mechanism or guides into operative position to receive the longitudinally folded sheet from the first named folding mechanism.

8. in a paper folding machine, the combination of longitudinal folding mechanism, said mechanism including means for effecting the first longitudinal fold in a sheet and said means embodying two creasing rolls, a stop guide arranged to receive the folded sheet from said rolls to eifect the second buckling or flexing of th'e sheet', a third roll arranged to contact with one of the first named rolls to eifect the second creasing of the folded sheet, and means for moving the said stop guide and third roll out of operative relation to the two first named rolls.

9. In a paper folding machine, the combination of longitudinal folding mechanism including two rolls designed to crease and buckle a sheet and to feed the sametherefrom, a stop guide designed to receive the folded sheet and to effect a second buckling or flexing of the same, a third roll arranged to onset with one of the first named rolls to feed the twice'folded sheet therefrom, and hinged armscarrylug said stop guide and third roll and arranged to hold the same in operative and inoperative relations with respect to the two first named rolls.

10. In combination, coliperating rolls. a stop guide arranged upon one side thereof, means for advancing letters or sheets to said rolls, a third roll acting jointly with one of the said cooperating rolls, a movable support, a folding roll and stop guide carried spring attached tov the movable support and adapted to coliperate with projections of the main frame to hold the roll and stop guide carried by the movable support either in or out of'operative position.

11. In a paper folding machine, the combination of iongitudinal folding mechanism. a transverse folding mechanism, llnd an intermediate guide mechanism for directing the longitudinally folded sheets to the transverse folding mechanism, said guide mechanism comprising cooperating rolls arranged side by side and having their upper ends tapered.

12. In combination, a longitudinal folding mechanism, a transverse foldins' mechanism, an intermediate guide mechanism comprising complements] rolls, an approximately bell crank lever forming a support for one of said rolls, 'a brace cooperating with said ball crank lever to fix its position, a pivoted support for the other roll, and a sprii fi acting with said pivoted support to hold its roll in engagement with the roll carried by said hell crank lever. in. In combination, a longitudinal and a transverse folding mechanism, an intermediate guide mechanism for directing the longitudinally folded sheets to the transverse folding mechanlsm, said guide mechanism comprising complemental rolls, and'averticslly adjustable support for properly positioning the longitudinally folded sheets bethe combination of transverse folding mechanism, a lateral transferring mechanism for passing the longitudinally folded sheets to the transverse folding 14. In a paper folding mechanism,

by said movable support, and a' mechanism, guides arranged to guide the longitudinally folded sheet to the lateral transferring mechanism, and

means for moving said guides out of operative relation to th d s me han sm- 15 In a paper folding machine, the combination. of iongitudinal folding mechanism arranged to drop a sheet therethrough, transverse folding mechanism, a lateral transferring device for pasing the'sheets to the transverse foiding mechanism, spaced apart vertical fingers arranged to receive the sheets dropped from the longitudinal folding mechanism, in operative relation for action by the lateral transferring device, and out of operative relation to said longitudinal folding m s-h mm- 16. In a paper folding machine, the combination of iongitudinal folding mechanism arranged to drop a sheet and means for moving said fingers into therethrough, transverse folding mechanism, a lateral gltudlnal folding mechanism, transverse foldingmechanism, and cones arranged to receive the sheet from the lon-' gltudinal folding mechanism and to feed the same to the transverse folding mechanism, said cones being pivotally mounted whereby they may he swung out of operative re lation to the folding mechanism.

18. In a paper folding machine, the combination of Iongltudinal folding mechanism, transverse folding -mechanism, a lateral transferring device designed to pass the sheets from the longitudinal folding mechanism to' thetransverse folding mechanism, and including two rollers normally in vertical alinement and underneath the longitudinal folding mechanism and designed to receive a sheet dropped therefrom, said rollers being also in horizontal alinement with the transverse folding mechanism, a bell crank lever supporting one of said rollers, means connected to said lever for holding the said roller supported thereby into operative relation with respect to the folding mechanisms, and means for pressing the other roller yieldingly against the first named roller.

19. In a paper folding machine of the character set forth, the combination of the first series of rolls, the second series of rolls, cones for feeding the folded sheet from one series to the next, and the upright guides for holding the sheet while passing from the first'series to the second series, and means whereby said guides may be swung out of the way.

20. In a paper folding machine, the combination of a series of rollers for producing the first fold in a sheet, a second series of rollers for producing a second fold at right angles to the first fold and cones arranged side by side underneath the first series of rollers and arranged to feed the sheet laterally therefrom. to the second series of rollers.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLIVER Wf-TOHNSQN. [L. 5.]

Witnesses:

H. A. WAUGEREM, H. C. D mssnnn. 

